The summer solstice has already eclipsed here in the northern hemisphere. I officially have to check if the tires of my care haven’t melted into the asphalt before I start my car, have taken to liberally applying sun cream on my face every 2 hours, and still haven’t increased my water intake. If this heat continues to press on like this, you’ll be receiving music recommendations from a golden raisin starting next week.
Please reach out to me via the handy dandy contact page on the cmd+f website, or on the cmd+f Twitter at @cmdf_me with your thoughts about any of the tracks I’ve selected this week. I love chatting about music. Let me in on your new favorite band; they’re looking for new fans, too.
As always, you know the drill: if you like what you hear, spread the cheer. Tell your friends about the songs you liked in this letter, but most importantly, let the artists know. There’s a good chance they’ll see your comments. Let them know how good their tunes are, and they’ll crank out even more magic.
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“Times We Had” - SG Lewis feat. Toulouse | Let me start off by apologizing for holding out on you. I was initially going to drop this tune in last week’s letter, but it was very late and I wanted to have enough clarity and peace of mind to completely GUSH about “Times We Had.” UK producer SG Lewis has once again blown my mind. The mysterious Toulouse (who’s dropped a handful of tunes over the past year) offers up some soulful vocals over the kicks and snares. I swear me talking about it do it justice, so I’ll stop talking and let you go have a listen. Listen here
“As If It’s Your Last” - BLACKPINK | If you’re a K-pop music fan, without a doubt you’ve already seen/heard this BOP. At the time I’m writing up this newsletter, the video has been up for 20 hours and has already amassed over 11 MILLION views on Youtube. Gah damn!! I saw a lot of friends screaming about this on Twitter when I came home from work last night, and so I turned it on and got my damn life. This is the gummiest, bubbliest, sweetest chorus. The melody will burrow its way into to your ear, and you’ll be sashaying your way through the day. Listen/watch here
“Desolately Devoted” - Denai Moore | From the first note I heard come out of Denai Moore, I was moved. My entire core was soothed, I just clocked with her music instantly. Her new album We Used to Bloom is a seamless, glorious 37 minute journey. The first time I ran through it, I felt like i was covered in aloe after a day in the sun. I was sold on “Desolately Devoted” as soon as the choir came in toward the end. Listen here
“Will You Dive” - Hot Dreams | This tune is a ghost of an early 90s Madchester daydream. Stuffed with delicious reverb, the tune starts out begging for a bit of shoegazing, all until it goes all balls out in the last minute and a half. It balls itself up before all crashing down on a loud, vicious jam session. Rock out, my friends. Listen here
“Reborn” - Rae Morris | For those who do check out/listen to my monthly playlists, you’ll likely have heard this little joint already. It’s been placed in my June 17 playlist for the past two weeks. What made me put it in the letter this week happened this week after listening to Switched on Pop, a music podcast that breaks down and dissects pop music theory. Their latest episode broke down a few contemporary examples of songs riding on the “rule of 3s” in which the song can be split between three different distinctive layers in order to gain our maximum level of attention. While a seemingly simple formula, the listener can focus more on the content of the song. Using less also leaves open for more, while I be extra flourishes here or there. Well, what would you know: “Reborn” fits right on in with that rule of 3s. Listen here
BONUS
If you’d like to listen to the full episode by the Switched on Pop podcast I mentioned above, the link is here. I can’t recommend their podcast enough; Nate and Charlie break down pop music in a way that’s interesting, and exciting. They’ve actually helped explain the appeal of so many hits on the charts I could not wrap my head around!
VINCE STAPLES’ BIG FISH THEORY IS THE MOST WELL PRODUCED AOTY. THE HD BASS?? I SWEAR YOU HAVE LITERALLY NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THIS. KEY TUNE: “Yeah Right” Listen here
Rita Ora’s video for “Your Song” is out, and I want names for this corporate affair she’s “working” at that allowed her to stroll in wearing a fishnet Comme des Garcons piratesque two piece suit and ballet flats because I wanna drop them my CV Watch here
The xx have dropped a deluxe edition of their new album I See You. The star bonus track is “Seasons Run” - very much the seasonal affective disorder cousin of Lana’s “Summertime Sadness.” Go give that baby a few spins Listen here
Go give ASAHD a pat on the back for all his hard work: DJ Khaled’s Grateful LP is out today (fav tune is “I Love You So Much” with Chance the Rapper) Listen here
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If you’re interested in hearing what else I’ve been rinsing this month (aside from the tracks listed above), peep my personal June 2017 playlist. You can dive into the cmd+f archive to hear what I’ve been listening to in previous months this year.
A(lmost a)ll of the tracks I’ve shared this week and past cmd+f newsletters are archived into a single playlist on Spotify for you to follow here. You’re welcome.
See you next week!